Ray Tracing
Definition
Ray tracing is a method used to determine the path of light rays as they interact with mirrors and lenses. It involves drawing rays from an object and following their paths after reflection or refraction.
Analogy
Imagine you are playing billiards and you want to predict where the ball will go after it hits the cushion. You can trace the path of the ball by imagining lines extending from its initial position, bouncing off the cushion, and continuing in a new direction.
Related terms
Reflection: The bouncing back of light rays when they hit a surface.
Refraction: The bending of light rays as they pass through different mediums.
Lens Equation: An equation that relates the object distance, image distance, and focal length of a lens in order to determine image characteristics.
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